20 years of La crémaillère

20 years ago, the mayor of St Gengoux le National, Mr Chapelon, handed over the keys to La Crémaillère, an old shop that had been completely restored by the town council, to a group of craftsmen, giving them a real showcase in the historic centre of the town to display their creations on very reasonable terms.
It was an opportunity to set up and experiment with collective management while respecting the beauty of the place. Managing a place collectively was a challenge for the solitary, independent people that we were, but what satisfaction to be able to say that we managed to hold the helm as time went by, happy to have proved that it was possible.
With the aim of promoting the arts and crafts, as stated in the statutes of our association, "Métiers d'Art Au Pluriel", we have also shared this experience with other craftspeople in the region by offering 3 of the 11 places available each year. In 20 years, we've enabled around sixty of them to exhibit with us for a year, making themselves known to a public that appreciates our shop and the way it works, because being on call allows us to meet visitors, talk about what drives us in our professions, and share our passion with them.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Crémaillère, the current team has decided to shine a spotlight on the diversity and plurality of the artisans exhibited over the years in the form of a wink:
For 8 months in 2024, from April to the end of November, the showcase will be fitted out to accommodate
5 artisans each month, each of whom will be able to exhibit between 1 and 5 pieces, depending on the volume of their work.
A festive vernissage to celebrate this anniversary will be held on 7 June from 6.30pm.